Vacuum air lift carburetor



E. RECTOR VACUUM AIR LIFT CARBURETOR Oct. 4, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Dec. 18, 1948 6 w W W 7 e aw R h c I m .MWNJMI \\w E R.mwc mm 4 W flflwwfw H 4 km dw w Q J a a WEN a a lllnl MI. flnw IIH- L BM om mm m A \\\N i l 6 :v 1@hmi j m vw um I i I ||M.|| wm ii [I .mm mm aV 7 Wm wb mm 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 206]? .Recl'or' BY E. RECTORVACUUM AIR LIFT CARBURETOR A. h km 8 Oct. 4, 1955 Original Filed Dec.

Oct. 4, 1955 E. RECTOR VACUUM AIR LIFT CARBURETOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed Dec. 1948 m r w T. O r Md 0 m F mfi. k ..:IL a R. ow m E-m i B M 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Dec. 1948 Fig-JD.

INVENTOR. Enoch Rector United States Patent VACUUM AIR LIFT CARBURETQREnoch Rector, New York, N. Y.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No. 66,647, December 18,1948. This application October, 1954, Serial No. 463,397

6 Claims. (Cl. 261-43) This invention relates to an improved carburetorfor internal combustion engines and having a novel design and particularadvantage over conventional carburetors.

The main object of the invention is to provide a carburetor with a noveltype of means for supplying fuel whereby the usual fuel pump to lift thefuel from the supply tank to the carburetor is eliminated.

A further object is to provide a positive and automatic valve inletmeans for controlling the supply of fuel to the bowl of the carburetor.

A still further object is to provide a novel combination of venturitubes associated with the fuel chamber of the carburetor and soconnected thereto as to improve the feed of the fuel from said chamber.

Yet another object is to provide a balanced float valve to maintain aconstant fuel level throughout a greater range of vacuum pressures inthe float chamber.

Still another object is the provision of a novel and improved form ofautomatic choke for enriching a mixture automatically whenthe engine isstarted cold.

Yet another object is to provide an improved form of idling jet in acarburetor.

Still another object is to provide an improved power jet in a carburetorfor operation when the throttle valve is wide open.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will moreclearly appear from a consideration of the detailed specificationhereinafter set forth especially when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a present preferred form whichthe invention may assume and which form part of the specification.

This application is a substitute for my abandoned application, SerialNo. 66,047, filed December 1:8. 1.9 and entitled Vacuum Air LiftCarburetor.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the carburetor taken on the line11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carburetor;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on .the line :55 .ofFig. 6, the venturi tubes and the lower part of the carburetor beingremoved, and showing the idling jet and airadmission valve;

Fig. 6 is :a sectional view :similar to that in Fig. 5 taken on the line66 of Fig. 5 and showing particularly the power jet arrangement and the:starting .jet passage from theauxiliary fuel chamber;

Fig. 7 is :a horizontal sectional view taken on the :line 77 of Fig. .6;

Fig. 8 .is a plan view of the float and .the .floa't valve;

Fig. -9 is a vertical sectional viewataken on the :line 99 9 :of'Figa8;

Fig. .10 is .a :partialsectionalview showingthemanner in which certainconnections are madeabetween the .car-

give an air lift when a lower auxiliary chamber 22, a central throughpassage 23 in which are disposed venturi tubes 24, 25 and 26. Near theupper end of the passage 23 is disposed the usual throttle valve 27mounted on a shaft 28 and adapted to be turned by the usual acceleratorpedal (not shown).

In the main fuel chamber 21 ordinarily known as the float chamber, thereis disposed a ring-like float 29 provided at diametrically oppositeportions with pins 30 to which outer ends of a forked yoke member 31 arepivoted. This yoke member is connected to a plate 32 pivoted on bearings33 fixed within the chamber 21 The opposite ends of the plate 32 haveinwardly extending portions 34 connected to a slide valve 35 which has acentral passage 36 extending through from one end to the other. Thisslide valve moves up and down in a sleeve 41 which projects upwardlyfrom a valve plug 39 which is suitably pinned at 40 to the casing of thecarburetor. As the valve 35 moves up and down, it opens and closes ports42 disposed at the lower end of the sleeve 41. The sleeve has a slot 41'in which ride the portions 34. The valve plug 39 also has a circularWall 43 surrounding and extending above the bottom of the slide valve 35and the ports 42 to admit the fuel into the chamber 21 without causingtoo much turbulence therein. As shown in Fig. l the sleeve 41 extendsthrough and above a wall of the carburetor casing and is threaded toreceive a closure cap 44 which facilitates its proper securement. Itwill thus be seen that if the slidevalve 35 is subjected to any pressureand any variation of pressure, this will be balanced against the bottomand top thereof which are of equal .area, and are connected by thepassage 36, and the valve 35 will be in a state of equilibrium eventhough the pressures may vary in the system. Consequently, the valve 35is moved up and down with extreme ease in response to the buoyant actionof the fuel on the float .29. This construction permits of a veryaccurate and exact fuel level being maintained throughout any range offuel pressures.

As shown in Figures 1 and 10 the fuel is lifted by means later to bedescribed from a tank 45 into which extends a pipe 46 connected at itsupper end by a suitable coupling member 47 t0 the valve plug 39. Thelower end of the pipe 46 has a hole .48. Within the tank 45 and for aconsiderable distance above the tank, the pipe 46 is surrounded by acylinder 48' in any manner tightly disposed therealong to provide apassage around the pipe 46 for air. The pipe 46 throughout its lengthwithin the cylinder 48' is provided with apertures .49 for the admissionof air from the surrounding cylinder into the pipe 46. The upper end ofthe cylinder .48 is connected at its upper end to a pipe 50 shown inFigures 2, 4 and 10, and .the function of the pipe 50 will behereinafter more fully explained.

The lower auxiliary chamber 22, as shown in Fig. l, is provided with aball check'valve 51 shown in Fig. 4, which controls thegravitationalflow of the fuel through the passage 52 from the main floatchamber 21 into the auxiliary chamber 22 when the engine is not running.When the engine is operating the suction in the fuel chamber will tendto seat the ball valve 51 and prevent reverse flow of fuel or air fromthe chamber 22 back into the chamber 21. As shown in :Fig. 1 theauxiliary chamber 22 is provided with an air inlet 53 leading to avertical vent passage 54 connected at its upper end to a vent hole 55well above the level of the fuel in the main chamber 21. Thisconstruction therefore permits the fuel in the auxiliary chamber 22 tobe subject to atmospheric air pressure which is utilized in a mannerlater to be described.

The lower venturi tube 26 as shown in Fig. 1 projects upwardly from thebottom of the auxiliary fuel chamber 22 and into the lower end of acylindrical liner sleeve 56 snug fitted within the passage 23 and withinwhich the two upper venturi tubes 24 and 25 are disposed as shown. Alarger cylindrical sleeve 57 is disposed in the float chamber 21 aroundthe lower end of the sleeve 56 and forms what I choose to call anauxiliary or acceleration well 58. The lower end of the sleeve 57 isprovided with ports 59 leading to the float chamber 21, and the ports 59may be closed by check valves 60 as shown. The lower venturi tube 26 isprovided with jet elements 61 which are disposed at its narrow throatportion and their outer faces somewhat spaced from the adjacent lowerend of the sleeve 56.

The intermediate venturi tube 25 is at its throat provided with a seriesof jets 62, certain of which, as shown in Fig. 3, are connected to ahorizontal passage 63 in which there is disposed an orifice member 64and connected to a vertical passage 65 leading to the bottom of thecasing and opening into the auxiliary fuel chamber 22.

One of the venturi jets 62, as shown in Fig. l, is connected by apassage 64' to the upper portion of the float chamber 21 above thenormal level of the fuel therein.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 5, it will be noted that abovethe intermediate venturi tube 25 and just below the shaft 28 of thethrottle valve 27, there is disposed a valve plug 65 in which a valvedisk is slidably disposed against its seat on a stem 67. A spring 68hearing against a washer 69 on the stem 67 tends to hold the valve 66against its seat. An adjustable nut 70 on the stem 67 determines thedegree of compression of the spring 68. The front end of the valve 66 isprovided, as shown in Fig. 5, with an axially disposed rod 71 which isadapted to he engaged by the throttle valve 27 when it is in wide openposition as shown in Fig. 5, in which position the throttle valve 27presses against the rod 71 and holds the valve 66 definitely against itsseat. The casing of the carburetor is provided with a passage 72 open tothe atmosphere and leading to a chamber 73 back of the valve 66. Thesleeve 56 is cut away at 74 to permit projection of the rod 71 and thepassage of air into the venturi passage when the valve 66 is unseated.

At the opposite side of the carburetor casing, as shown in Fig. 5, isanother passage 75 open to the atmosphere and to a jet element 76disposed in alignment with a passage 77 leading through the sleeve 56 tothe venturi passage below the throttle valve 27. The passage 77 isformed in a plug 78 supporting the jet 76, and the plug 78 is providedwith lateral passages 79 opening into a chamber 80 around the reducedend of the plug 78. The

chamber 80 is connected by a passage 81 to the upper end of theacceleration well.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 6, it will be noted that the shaft 28of the throttle valve 27 has mounted on one end a cylindrical valve 82,which is turned as the shaft 28 is turned in response to the operationof the accelerator pedal (not shown). When the throttle valve 27 is inits vertical position, as shown in the above mentioned figures, thecylindrical valve 82 is provided with passages 83 and 84 and the shaft23 is provided with a through passage 85, so that when the valve 27 isin the vertical position, a passage 86 connected to the atmosphere (seeFig. 6), permits air to pass into the valve by way of the passage 83 andinto the pipe 50 which is connected thereto in Fig. 4, and down throughthe valve into the passage 84 to connect with a passage 87 opening intoa dependent tube 88 extending down into a well 89 below the fuel levelin the fuel chamber 21, which by means of a lower port 90 connects withthe main fuel float chamber 21. Therefore, when the valve 27 is in thewide open position air can pass into the well 89 and into the pipe 50.As the air passes into the well 89 below the fuel level, it moves upthrough the fuel therein and carries some fuel up around the tube 88into a horizontal passage 91 which opens to one of the jets 62 of theintermediate venturi tube 25 as seen in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 11 there is shown a modification of the float valve theoperation of which is entirely automatic, and control over the flow offuel into the chamber 21 will depend upon the difference in pressureexisting on either side of the plunger 95. The construction of thismodification includes a cylindrical sleeve 92 tight fitted to an openingin the carburetor casing and to the outer end of which the couplingmember 47 of the pipe 46 is connected. The arrangement is held in placeby means of a washer 93 and a lock nut 94.

Within the cylinder 92 is a slidable plunger 95 having a through bore 96and an inner reduced end 97. Between the reduced end 97 and the innerwall of the cylinder 92 is disposed a compression spring 98. The innerend of the cylinder 92 has holes 99 connecting its interior with thefloat chamber 21.

The float 29 is connected through pivot pins 30 to the yoke members 31as before stated, and these yoke members 31 are pivoted at 100 in anysuitable manner to the interior wall of the carburetor. The plunger 95has a valve seat 101 against which a ball valve 102 may seat. The ballvalve 102 is on a stem.104 fixed to a plate 103 which is mounted on andmoves with the yoke members 31. In operation as the vacuum in the floatchamber 21 increases, the fuel coming through the pipe 46 will push theplunger 95 inwardly toward the chamber 21. As the degree of pressure orvacuum in the chamber 21 varies, the degree of compression of the spring98 will vary, and the plunger 95 will move back and forth causing thefloat 29 to be more or less submerged in order to resist the greater orless fuel pressure against the ball valve 102 induced by the vacuum inthe chamber 21. The ball valve 102 never stays seated for any greatlength of time but is held in a partly open position most of the time bymeans of the float 29 to allow only sufficient fuel to pass to maintaina proper fuel level in the chamber 21.

OPERATION Automatic choke In describing the operation of my carburetor Iwill assume that the engine is cold and not operating. In such case thethrottle valve 27 and the idling valve 66 are closed so that when theignition is turned on and the starter turns the engine over aconsiderable amount of vacuum is created beneath the closed valves whichwill tend to pull up fuel from the auxiliary chamber 22 through passage65, jet member 64, passage 63 and out of one of the jets 62 in theVenturi tube 25. This will produce a very rich mixture because theengine suction will readily pull up the fuel from the chamber 22, sincethe surface of the fuel in this chamber is open to the atmospheric airthrough the ports 53 and 55 and the passage 54. When turning the engineover with the starter there will be enough vacuum created to open theidling valve 66 against the resistance of the spring 68. After theengine has started and then later stops the auxiliary chamber 22 whichmay have been partly or entirely emptied will fill by gravitational flowready to supply the starting jet for subsequent starting of the engine.In the event that the auxiliary chamber 22 is emptied during theoperation of the engine, it is clear from Fig. 3 that cool air from theatmosphere will be sucked into the chamber 22 through the ports shown inFig. 1 and up through the ports shown in Fig. 3 thereby tending to coolthe carburetor. i

Idling amen In this operation illustrated in Figures l and 5, the enginehas been started and is now operating idly without any pressure on thethrottle. Therefore, the valve 27 is still closed and-the valve 66 isopen. However, the chamber 22 has been exhausted of fuel and only air iscoming from said chamber through the upper jets '62. Now, however, asmall amount of air is let in laterally justbelow the throttle valvethrough the passages 75 and '77 and the jet element 76 as appears inFig. 1. This innish of air passes the openings 79 connected to the upperend of the accelerating well 58 connected by-the check valves 60 to thefloat chamber 21. The suction created by this fast moving air tends tosuck up a small amount of fuel from the well 58 to mix with the air toprovide sufficient fuel for the engine when idling. The fuel thuspulledup into the well 58 past the check valves 60 between these two chambers21 and 22 will fill the well 58, andthere will occur in it a liquidlevel higher than that in the chamber 21. Additional air as required isdrawn in by'the suction of the idling engine by way of the springcontrolled air valve 66. This additional air is produced by theincreased vacuum induced by the increased speedof the engine pullingopen the valve 66 until the washer 69 serving as a stop abuts theshoulder of the plug 65'. The position of the washer 69 on the stem 67may be adjusted by means of the nut 70. The adjustment mentioned iscalculated so that just enough air will be admitted together with theair passing through the idling jet element 76 for idling purposes. Afterthe engine is started the idling valve 66 opens and remains open untilthe throtle valve 27 is wide open or nearly so, in which case the vacuumin the venturi decreases sufliciently to allow the spring 68 to closethe valve 66. This action will keep on indefinitely as long as theengine is idling and thus the well 58 is kept full. When the throttlevalve 27 is opened larger quantities of air are thereby admitted to theventuri passage and this flow of air will cause fuel to be drawn out ofthe main lower jets 61 by reason of a pressure differential created onthe fuel in the main chamber between the upper and lower jets, whereincertain of the jets are connected to the main chamber above the normalfuel level by way of the passage 64'. When the engine is idling and thewell 58 is filled, if the throttle is suddenly opened and there is asudden demand for more fuel, the extra supply needed is temporarilysupplied to the main lower jets by reason of the differential head orliquid level in the well 58. If the chamber 22 has not been exhausted offuel before the engine starts to idle the fuel from the chamber 22 willcontinue to be sucked up and join the fuel sucked in through the jet 76to produce a rich mixture of air and fuel in the engine, but as soon asthe chamber 22 becomes emptied the mixture changes to a less rich kindin nature. The volume of fuel in the chamber 22 is calculated to besufficient to warm up the engine so that the normal fuel setting canthereafter well meet the required demand.

Power jet action When the throttle valve 27 is wide open, Figures 3through 6 the cylinder valve 82 will into the position indicated in Fig.3, so that air is drawn through the passage 86 and may pass not onlyinto the pipe 50 but also pass down through the tube 88. The suction ofthe engine efiects this drawing of air and as it passes down through thepipe 50 it will enter the cylinder 48' and pass into the pipe 46 throughany of the holes 49 above the level of the fuel in the tank 45, mixingwith the fuel and vapor in the pipe 46, thus lightening the weight ofthe column and causing a lift of fuel to he float chamber 21. Similarly,the suction of air down through the tube 88 into the body of liquid fuelin the float chamber will cause it to facilitate the lifting of fuelfrom said chamber into the passage 91 to pass through one of the upperjets 62. Thus under a wide open throttle the air lift effect is appliednot only to the main as shown in have moved 6 fuel tank but also to thefloat chamber. This readily augments the fuel being supplied through themain jets and meets all power demands. It is to be noted that when theair is pulled into the pipe 50 and passes up through the float valveinto the chamber 21, it is allowed to escape into the venturi passage byreasonof the passage 64-connecting the tube at the top of thefloatchamberwith one of the jets 62. It is necessary to use the air liftfrom the tank only when the throttle valve is wide open, or nearly so,as the vacuum pressure, when the throttle valve is in a partly openedposition, is suflicient to lift the fuel to the carburetor. The powerjet into the float chamber by way of the air tube 88 is only needed atthis time for wide open operation and therefore, it is convenient toconnect the two operations by the movement of the single valve 82 shownin Figures 2 and 4.

It is to be understood that the float valve construction shown inFig. 1,or that shown in Fig. 11, may be employed depending upon the conditionsexisting and the action required.

While the invention has been described in detail and with respect to thepreferred form shown in the drawin'gs, it is not to be limited in suchdetails and form since many changes and modifications may be made in theinvention without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionin its broadest aspects. Hence, it is intended to cover any and allforms and modifications of the invention which may come within thelanguage or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. In combination, a carburetor having a main fuel chamber and a venturipassage in which are disposed an upper and a lower venturi tube intandem, a tank for fuel, connections between the fuel tank and thechamber, said chamber having a well connected to it, a tube in said wellextending below the fluid level therein, a single valve means operatedby the operator to introduce air from the atmosphere into saidconnections and into said tube, said carburetor having a passage in themain chamber connecting its upper portionwith the upper venturi tube andalso a passage connecting the upper portion of the well with the upperventuri tube, said carburetor having a passage connecting the lowerportion of the chamber with said lower venturi tube.

2. In combination, a carburetor having a main fuel chamber and a venturipassage in which are disposed an upper and a lower ventun' tube intandem, a tank for fuel, connections between the fuel tank and thechamber, said chamber having a well connected to it, a tube in said wellextending below the fluid level therein, a single valve means operatedby the operator to introduce air from the atmosphere into saidconnections and into said tube, said carburetor having a passage in themain chamber connecting its upper portion with the upper venturi tubeand also a passage connecting the upper portion of the well with theupper venturi tube, said carburetor having a passage connecting thelower portion of the chamber with said lower venturi tube, a throttlevalve in the venturi passage above the tubes, said single valve meansconnected to said throttle valve and operated to admit air when thethrottle valve is moved to full throttle position.

3. In combination with an engine carburetor having a main fuel chamberand a venturi passage, a fuel feeding system comprising a tank for fuel,connections between the fuel tank and the chamber, means operated by theoperator to introduce air into the fuel in said connection, saidcarburetor having a passage connecting the main fuel chamber and theventuri passage for delivering fuel to said venturi passage, saidcarburetor having a second passage above the normal fuel level in thechamber whereby the entrained air is separated from the fuel andpermitted to escape into the venturi passage.

4. In combination with an engine carburetor having a main fuel chamberand a venturi passage, a fuel feeding system comprising a tank for fuel,connections between the fuel tank and the chamber, an auxiliary fuelchamber located below said main chamber and connected to the venturipassage by means of an open passageway, means operable whenthe enginestops to transfer fuel from the main chamber to the auxiliary chamber,means operated by the operator to introduce air into the fuel in saidconnections, said carburetor having a passage connecting the main fuelchamber and the venturi passage for delivering fuel to said venturipassage, said carburetor having a second passage above the normal fuellevel in the chamber whereby the entrained air is separated from thefuel and permitted to escape into the venturi passage.

5. in combination with an engine carburetor having a main fuel chamberand a venturi passage, a fuel feeding system comprising a tank for fuel,connections between the fuel tank and the chamber, said chamber having awell connected to it below the normal fuel level in the chamber, a tubein said well extendeding below the fuel level therein, said carburetorhaving a passage therein connecting the upper portion of the well to theventuri passage, a single valve means operated by the operator tointroduce air from the atmosphere into said connections and into saidtube, said carburetor having a passage therein above the normal fuellevel in the chamber and connecting said chamber with the venturipassage whereby the entrained air in the chamber is separated from thefuel and permitted to escape into the venturi passage.

6. In combination with an engine carburetor having a main fuel chamberand a venturi passage, a fuel feeding system comprising a tank for fuel,connections between the fuel tank and the chamber, said chamber having awell connected to it below the normal fuel level in the chamber, a tubein said well extending below the fuel level therein, said carburetorhaving a passage therein connecting the upper portion of the well to theventuri passage, a single valve means operated by the operator tointroduce air from the atmosphere into said connections and into saidtube, said carburetor having a passage therein above the normal fuellevel in the chamber and connecting said chamber with the venturipassage whereby the entrained air in the chamber is separated from thefuel and permitted to escape into the venturi passage, a throttle valvein the venturi passage, said single valve means being connected to saidthrottle valve and operated to admit air when the throttle valve ismoved to full throttle position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,274,965 Weiland Aug. 6, 1918 1,383,044 Weiland June 28, 1921 1,889,922Justheim Dec. 6, 1932 2,087,116 Prentiss July 13, 1937

